Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Do You Need To Carry Anything In Case Of Emergency?



Recommended Posts

My husband asked me yesterday and I had no idea. His sister only has one kidney, so she carries a card in her wallet stating that, in case of an accident and she can't tell them, they need to check her kidney and be careful because she could die from it.

Do we need to carry anything like that or wear one of those medical bracelets or something now that we had this surgery?? I mean I think we would be more susceptible to a leak or something if we had a high trauma to our stomachs no??

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You need a card that states that medical personal need to be extremely cautious when inserting a naso-gastric tube. Not that it comes up a lot, but still. I got mine at my two week checkup.

As I understand it, NSAIDS and steroids can be taken with a gastric sleeve. That warning is for bypass patients. This is one of the reasons I choose the sleeve over bypass.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was also given a card when I left the hospital to keep in my wallet that tells medical personnel that the tube can only be inserted with radiology because our anatomy is now differnet. They also recommended I get one of those medical alert bracelets, but I haven't.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have a card in my wallet that was given to me at the surgeon's office on my first visit. ;)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

hmmmmmmmmm...first i have heard of a "card"...someone has some splaining to do!!

sounds like a great topic for our next support group meeting...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Have a card also that says I had bariatric surgery but I had not idea about the tube insertion. Did your surgeon tell you this.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The hospital I had my surgery at has a whole packet of information that a nurse goes over with you check out. One of them is that you can't be intabated (not sure if I spelled that right-when they put the tube down your throat to help you breath) without having an x-ray at the same time, to make sure it goes down properly. When I asked the surgeon and internal doc they agreed with this as well. Although I suppose if you are in an accident and the choices are 1) die because you can't breath or 2) have the tube inserted, potentially incorrectly, and still live.....I'll take #2.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes, the information is correct. No blind NG tubes and they need to know not to push to much Fluid into it. Like I said, it doesn't come up a lot, but still ...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'll have to ask about that too! I know they told me if I have an emergency to go to their ER... But emergencies don't always happen close to home or near that hospital... Thanks for bringing this subject up.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Oh one other thing it says on my emergency card is for the ER to contact my surgeon and lists his name, hospital affiliation, address and phone number, so that the surgeon can personally tell the ER what to do in addition to their treatment to accomodate a sleeved stomach.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'll preface this by saying I am not a doctor or work in the medical field. However, I have been told that VSG patients do not need to worry about having an naso gastric tube puncturing their sleeve. That is "old" thinking based on the fact that it is a SERIOUS issue for those with an RNY gastric bypass and could easily puncture their pouch. The sleeve is a completely different animal but it seems the advice still sticks.

Kinda like how NSAIDS are fine with a sleeve.....but some surgeons still tell their patients they can't have it.

Just my two cents.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×